I can explain!

Sorry folks. No pics. Just words. Barely any time to write....but I CAN"T stand staying silent this long.

Disclaimer: 1st, we don't have internet. We don't have any TV channels either. I love not having TV. HATE not having internet. So, whenever I want to use the internet, I have to go to the library, and i have to take Jet with me, and for some odd reason....he is very impatient in the library. Which means I only have time for MANDATORY things, like paying bills etc. I have tried to write posts at home, and then just copy and past them, so I can post them really quick, but I always get an error message.

Now to the fun.

I LOVE BEING A MOM. Have I even been able to say that yet? This is going to sound horrible, but I'm an honest person. I was seriously worried I wouldn't like being a mom. I wanted to like it, I wanted to love it....I even asked Chad before Jet arrived, what if I don't like being a mom? Well....that problem was solved really easy. It rocks.....to the umpteenth power. I love taking care of him, and loving him. He thinks I'm hilarious....major plus.....he loves my singing...not my piano playing.....I made him laugh the other day by taking his little hands, lightly banging (that doesn't make sense) them on his chest, and making tarzan sounds....he loves to watch me do aerobics....I am always getting a heavy bag load of books from the library for us to read together. Well....I like looking at the art and enjoying the creativity of childrens lit...and he tends to squirm by the end of the story, unless I add some type of motions with the story telling. He has just started learning to laugh...and at this point it's more of a gargle. He's is unobjectionally the cutest baby ever! I am allowed to say that....cuz I'm his mom....ha!

What have I been up to?

Reading like a mad woman. I love it. I've read, Sheri Dew books, personal finance and investing books, career books, I'm reading the WHOLE Bible, start to finish...I'm almost done with Numbers, and right now I'm reading books on journal writing.....I just finished a fabulous one called, "A Broom of One's Own." A charming memoir about a jack-of-all-trades sort of woman who cleaned houses for 15 years, and became a writer. It was fun delving into her mind. I miss her already. I just finished the book a few days ago. I also perused one called, "Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and other Dangerous Pursuits." It was not nearly as sensational as the former. And I'm in the middle of, "Leaving A Trace." This author is seriously fabulous. She impresses me with how she construes words and sentences with such grace. I only hope one day to be as articulate and scintilatting. sp? I have been so inspired about journal writing. What a door-opener to one's mind! I even pulled out my journal I wrote in from age 15-19. I am having-a-ball reminiscing. But I must admit.....this is definitely my favorite time in my life thus far. I love Central Oregon. I love our family.....the dogs on a day by day basis (yikes....what troublemakers). I feel so fortunate to be able to JUST be a mom and wife right now. I love it. I do look forward to a future time when I can pursue my career (I have decided to be a lit. professor....I was planning on teaching highschool lit.....but I think I'd prefer a community college) ....but now is not the time....life has its seasons, and I plan on enjoying them as they come and go....not pining for the past, or longing for the future.

Isn't life just fabulous? Chad has been inspiring me with all these fascinating things he wants to do sometime in his life. Some of them are quite.....fanciful.....but I love it! Well....it's got me thinking.

Wouldn't it be fabulous to swim in the ocean off of Greece...in that sapphire water? What's that city with all the white stucco buildings, and electric blue domed roofs? Santorini? I want to go there, in the summertime, and dip in the ocean. "I should love to go sea bathing!"

Wouldn't it be fabulous to run marathons in tons of different cities? What a unique view you would get of the place....and obviously they map the marathons to pass some of the best parts of the cities (to entice to runners to come). I would LOVE to do that.

I would love to surf on a regular basis, and mountain bike. I would love to go swimming in some sort of body of water (not a pool) every day in the summer!

What do you think would be fabulous?


I realize there are obviously more important things in life....and I'll keep my priorities straight....but "Wouldn't it be nice?" Do you hear that Beach Boys tune tapping at your brain? Love that song. Who wouldn't? Seriously....what a sad sort of person.

Well, I miss you all! I miss keeping track of everyone, and seeing their happy moments. I need the internet. Well.............WANT. Wants and needs.....why can't we have it all sometimes? Ol gol Jess, it's not a tragedy. Sorry...just talking to myself. Love you all!

Photo Shoot...he's so stinkin' cute!

PICS and update

Life has been busy since the last post, and we don’t have the internet.

First, BIG THANKS to all people who have helped us in the past 2 months….from helping us move, to helping with the house when we were too tired, to taking care of Jet, and just being there. I have been the receiver of so much service this past while, that I’m contemplating becoming the “Do-good Fairy,” who goes about doing service all day in an effort to repay all that has been done. It sounds pretty fun actually….maybe I’ll even make a costume…tehe.

The big events of the past 6 weeks
Jet arrived.
Jet didn’t eat very well….which means we didn’t sleep well, but it’s all good
We had to get packed
We went to Chad’s family reunion in Idaho…somehow we fit Chad, his Dad, Hailey, myself, Jet and his carseat, and Dakota all in our Jeep patriot….it’s about the smallest SUV available…good gas mileage for an SUV, but it was a SQUEEZE….especially considering we drove for about 30 hours, there and back.
We moved to LaPine.
Chad had to get a tooth pulled, after being in misery for 3 days
I got mastisis….luckily it wasn’t too extreme of a case
I had to go back to work, 2 weeks after Jet was born….but luckily I was done 2 weeks after that
Unpack….what a job!
Chad: getting curriculum ready for school
Feeding Jet 7-8 times a day, at an hour a pop! He’s gotten much faster, luckily
Eat, sleep, and clean while doing all that…..I’ve come to realize that these things are quite time consuming.


Now we’re here, and loving it. I love that my job is to enjoy taking care of my family every day. That’s my job! SWEET! SO happy! Jet is smiling now….he’s so sweet, and has been getting happier and happier…I can’t stop looking at him. He’s the best part of everyday. Chad and I love this little boy so much. Our favorite times are when we’re all together at the end of the day in our King size bed…Chad, Jet, Dakota, and me….no, we don’t all sleep in the bed, but we like to hangout there at night, and spend some good ol’ family time sharing funning stories from the day.

The slogan for LaPine is, “The outdoors at your backdoor,” and it’s the truth. We live literally around the corner from the State Park….and it’s a beaut! Trails galore, winding river throughout, snow-capped mountains in the distance….I can’t believe that it’s practically in my backyard! I’ve already gone mountain biking a lot. Luckily, the trails are fairly level, because I’m such a novice….I’ve always wanted to mountain bike, but Eugene/Spfld is a running town, not a mountain biking town. The State Park is a perfect learning place for me, because I’m seriously the gal who gets anxious when a badly protruding tree root is around the corner, or an abnormally large pinecone is in the middle of the trail. I’ve already gotten better with handling the bike….I LOVE MY BIKE! And it finally looks like a mountain bike is supposed to….DIRTY!

Gotta go…sorry about the awkward stopping point.

Jet Jay Durfee has arrived!

Here he is! Jet arrived exactly 1 week ago....July 16th, 2009 2:58 pm. Sorry it's taken so long to post, but surely you can understand.

Things are off to a great start, and Chad and I are happier than ever. We didn't know how cute he would be...lol. It has been wonderful spending so much time with our families, and sharing the joys of a newborn baby.

New Stomping Grounds

We're MOVING! In about a month, we'll be in La Pine, Oregon because Chad got a teaching job there. It's about 20 miles south of Bend.

There are some definite pros and cons to this move, but I'm more happy than sad.


Pros:

Chad has a full-time job, and has gotten off to a great start with the administration at the school.

I will be able to focus more on being a mom, instead of working full-time at home, and trying to figure out how to raise a newborn....it was going to be a juggling act I was freaking out about.

La Pine is great for outdoor recreation....which we both LOVE! Mountain biking, hiking, golfing, trail running, and oodles of good stuff.....SCHWEET!

Property and houses are really affordable, and almost all the houses come with an acre of land...which appeals to both of us, and Dakota....we're so happy for her, the little running fanatic.


Cons:

Moving away from family is the big whopper and pink elephant! I was so excited to have family around while we're raising our little boy....mostly because it makes it more fun, because you get to share the joys, and feel connected and all that wonderfulness. BIG BUMMER. Luckily, we're only an hour and 45 minutes away, so it's not too bad. I have actually never moved away from family....so....I'm excited and eeksy at the same time.

It's a small town. This could be a good thing. We'll see how we like it. But, it's still close to Bend, and we're not uber-socialites....so...we'll see.

Moving all our stuff after just having a baby, isn't the best timing, but all we have to do is survive when it comes down to it.

So.....that's the big news. Yah-hee!

He's just about here!

Just an update for everyone to let you know things are going smoothly.

Baby due: July 14th

I have not had one contraction....not even a Braxton Hicks contraction

I can still walk normally.....at least I feel like I can, I don't know if it looks like I can.

Dr. says everything is on schedule, and everything looks good.

It's nice to say, "I'm due in a week," when people ask, "When are you due?" because then they aren't thinking, oh my gosh, she is that big and she's only 7 months!

I think my belly is really weird looking when I take pictures. It's looks fine in the mirror, and when I look down at it, but when I take a picture....it looks like I literally have a basketball under my shirt....it's sticks out so far! It looks like it's going to detach and float away....well...not float away....more like drop with a huge THUD....that's sad....I like the floating scenario better.

I have been sleeping pretty well considering it's pretty much impossible to get comfortable....and when I roll over, I can feel the baby shifting from one side to the other....and it hurts.



EMOTIONALLY

Excited and subtle freaking out. I hope I'm a good mom. I hope I don't dislike being a mom. I know it will be hard, but I know it's right, and I'm really excited for our family. It will be fun to be parents together. People either tell me, "Oh, you're going to have SO MUCH fun," or they say, "Your life is going to change SO MUCH (in a negative tone)." I know both statements are true, but the latter is so dismal. I like my life now, but I know the things that I will have to sacrifice are less important than raising a healthy, happy little tike. It will take some adjusting, but they will be good adjustments. Everything will be fine. Gooz-fraw-baw.


A few weeks ago I was really sick of being pregnant....now I'm kinda past it (at this point, I practically feel like I don't know any different....I know that's sounds exaggerated, but it's how I honestly feel)....but during that time I wrote a letter to my pre-pregnant self to get the emotions out in a fun way. I hope it's somewhat amusing.

A melodramatic, self-indulgent ode to a single-bodied life

Dear body,

What’s it like to roll over in bed, and have it be easy?

What’s it like to lie in the bathtub, and not have your belly get cold because there is no way that its mountainousness could be submerged in the warm water too, unless you overflowed the tub?

What is like to attempt to run for a few yards, and not feel like a clumsy hippo?

Because, I CAN BARELY REMEMBER!!! You see, I have had an extra person inside for quite some time, and I’ve forgotten what it is like to just be me.

What’s it like to not be surprised at your width every time you happen upon your reflection?

What is it like to not feel like Saturn in a dress?

What is like to feel pretty, and not “glowing”? I’m sick of “GLOWING.” What is that anyway? They can’t say you look pretty, cuz you don’t, but you still look reasonably tolerable, so they say you’re “glowing?”

What is it like to just be Jessica, and not be Jessica and baby? This multiple person thing is really tweakin me.

Love, Jessica (in the present)


Well, sorry to talk so much about the pregnancy, but that's the main event in my life these days.

Just Keep Swimming! and Baby bjorn

So....you know on Finding Nemo where Dory keeps singing, Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming? The moral being, just keep going and eventually it will get better, and you'll find Nemo. This has been my mantra for the past.....WHILE. JUST KEEP SWIMMING! It will get smoother....it will get better. I've had the same job for the past 3 years, and go figure it has never been this crazy busy until I'm pregnant, trying to get ready for a baby, and Chad is trying to look for full-time work next year. Sometimes I wish I could turn off my emotions....and be Data from Star Trek....meaning, have no emotions...and yes, I can't believe I made a Star Trek reference....holy dorkus.....but I honestly haven't watched Star Trek in years, since I was about 10...but I still love Patrick Stewart....no one wears bald so well. Anyway.......for now, the plan is....just keep swimming, and we'll be just fine.


QUESTION.....help.....need advice....need expertise regarding baby carrier thingies.

I know I need one of those baby carriers, for my job, and also cuz I like to get out and go places. I know I will use it A LOT! So, I've been looking around, and am totally clueless. Obviously, the Baby Bjorn is famous for being fabulous....but why is it $80 when other carriers that are similar are $30? Is it worth the investment? What about Snugli, or Infantino carriers? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I will give a better update later.....sorry....don't be hatin'.